The Eclipse
About the Eclipse
The July 22, 2009 Total Solar Eclipse in China is the longest total solar eclipse in our lifetime, and the second longest in recorded history, next only to the June 20, 1955 eclipse in Manila.
Totality will last 5 min 8.6 sec in Shanghai and 5 min 27.8 sec in Wuhan. In 1955 totality was 6 min 1.0 sec in Manila and 7 min 6.3 sec in San Pablo, Laguna. The 2009 eclipse will not be surpassed in duration until June 13, 2132.
July 22, 2009 Eclipse animation from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
The July eclipse will be partial in the Philippines with an eclipse magnitude of about 50% in Metro Manila, as shown in the eclipse map below. In UP Diliman, the magnitude is about 49.6%.
Map showing maximum eclipse magnitudes in different places
About a hundred amateur astronomers from the Philippines will be going to Shanghai and Wuhan for this solar eclipse, with Shanghai being the preferred place due to its accessibility. The following map shows the path of totality.
Map showing the path of totality through China
UP Astrosoc will send a delegation of about 12 regular and associate members to Shanghai. The team will perform experiments and documentation of the event.
Among the plans are contact timing, multiple exposures, imaging of visible planets during totality, observation of shadow bands, and watching changes in temperature.
How the moon enters the sun's disk in Shanghai
The following lists the circumstances of the eclipse using general coordinates of Shanghai, China. When the team gets to its observation site, a new set of timing predictions will be made based on the site’s GPS reading.
Timing Information
Beginning of partial phase
| Time: | 2009 Jul 22 08:23:07 |
| PA of centre of Moon: | 286.0° |
| Sun’s altitude: | 40.3° |
Beginning of total phase
| Time: | 2009 Jul 22 09:36:22 |
| PA of centre of Moon: | 259.1° |
| Sun’s altitude: | 55.9° |
Maximum eclipse
| Time: | 2009 Jul 22 09:38:56 |
| Eclipse magnitude: | 1.019 |
| Moon:Sun size ratio: | 1.078 |
| PA of centre of Moon: | 199.5° |
| Sun’s altitude: | 56.4° |
End of total phase
| Time: | 2009 Jul 22 09:41:31 |
| PA of centre of Moon: | 139.8° |
| Sun’s altitude: | 56.9° |
End of partial phase
| Time: | 2009 Jul 22 11:01:15 |
| PA of centre of Moon: | 113.3° |
| Sun’s altitude: | 72.7° |
Not everyone though will be going to Shanghai. To know more about how it will be seen from the Philippines, see How to Observe the Partial Eclipse.
